Bermuda’s Under-20s displayed immense character to rescue a hard-fought 2–2 draw against Trinidad and Tobago, after a late defensive collapse threatened to derail their Concacaf qualifying opener in Alajuela.
Trinidad and Tobago Starting Line-Up: - Bryan Gafiuk, Talan McMillan, Sheridan McNish, Adam Pierre, Jaydon Caprietta; Caden Trestrail, Josiah Ochoa, Colin Joseph, Malachi Webb, Phillip Nelson, Derrel Garcia - Substitutes: - Jadon Paul-Alexander, Sylvon Theophilus, Jeremy Meloney, Lyshaun Morris, Jaden Chan Tack, Josiah Kallicharan, Jadon McShine, Giovanni Hospedales, Dominic Joseph, Chaz Williams - Bermuda Starting Line-Up: - David Martin, Nayan Grant, Emeer Peets, Logan Jimenez, Khari Sharrieff, Jace Donawa, Xahvi DeRoza, Michari Tear-De Leon, Kennahz Fray, Harlem Bean-Fox, Kalen Brunson - Substitutes: - Curtis Jackson Jr., Daniel Powell, Dakari Smith-Davis, D’ari Coddington, Blayze Borgesson, Malachai Belboda, James Morrison, Qur'an Raynor, Isai Gibbons, DaQaio Stewart
In the fifth historical meeting between these two nations at this level, Bermuda appeared on course for a statement victory at the Complejo Deportivo FCRF-Plycem.
Following a resilient opening half hour, Jace Donawa broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. The striker showcased his blistering pace to latch onto a searching long ball, outmaneuvering his marker and calmly slotting past the advancing goalkeeper to give Cecoy Robinson’s side a deserved half-time lead.
However, the second half transformed into a test of Bermuda's resolve as the game swung wildly in the final quarter. Two minutes of defensive misfortune appeared to hand the initiative to Trinidad.
In the 78th minute, a moment of hesitation in the Bermuda box resulted in an own goal under intense pressure from the Trinidadian attack. Barely sixty seconds later, the turnaround was complete; a lapse in concentration at the back allowed Trinidad to regain possession directly from the restart and fire home to take a 2–1 lead.
Stunned but not defeated, Bermuda threw bodies forward in search of a late lifeline. It arrived in the 84th minute via substitute James Morrison. Rising highest in the penalty area, Morrison connected with a pinpoint free-kick delivered from deep in the Trinidadian half, looping a powerful header over the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper to level the scores.
The result maintains the historic parity between the two sides, with their head-to-head record now standing at one win apiece and three draws. For Bermuda, participating in their 14th qualification campaign, the point provides a vital platform as they prepare for Saturday's clash with Sint Maarten. With only the group winner progressing to the Championship in July, every moment of resilience like Morrison’s header could prove the difference in the final standings.
Monday, February 23, 2026
Bermuda Frustrated by Hosts in daunting Guatemala Tie
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s junior tennis stars faced a grueling afternoon under the cooling temperatures in Guatemala City, as the host nation delivered a clinical 3–0 sweep in their latest Under-16 Boys Round Robin fixture.
Competing in Group 1 of the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup NAMCAM Pre-Qualifying Tournament, the Bermudian trio of Jaden Jones, Michael Collins, and Hasan Khan found the cold riddle to solve against a seasoned Guatemalan squad. The tone for the tie was set in the opening singles match, where Jorge Estevez utilized his home-court advantage to perfection, defeating Jones in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.
The mountain became even steeper in the second singles rubber as Michael Collins stepped up to face Martin Garcia. Despite a spirited second-set resistance from the Bermudian, Garcia’s consistency from the baseline proved decisive, securing a 6-2, 6-3 victory to give Guatemala an unassailable 2–0 lead.
Bermuda looked to salvage a point in the concluding doubles match, with Collins returning to the court alongside Hasan Khan. However, the Guatemalan pairing of Julian and Martin Garcia maintained their dominance at the net, closing out a 6-1, 6-2 win to complete the comprehensive victory.
The result leaves Bermuda with work to do in the remaining group stages as they target a spot in the final qualifying rounds in Canada this April. Veteran coach Brent Smith will now look to regroup his squad, focusing on technical adjustments to help the young stars find their rhythm.
Monday, February 23, 2026
Slowinski Appointed Bermuda’s Bowlers Head Coach
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s Men’s National Bowling team has made a significant statement of intent on the international stage, securing the services of world-renowned expert Joe Slowinski as their new head coach.
Slowinski arrives with one of the most decorated resumes in the sport. A USBC Gold Coach—the highest possible level of certification—he brings over 40 years of experience specializing in elite, data-driven, and biomechanical training. His career has spanned the globe, including highly successful stints in the Philippines and Malaysia, as well as a tenure as a master teaching professional at the prestigious Kegel Training Center in Florida.
Known for his scientific approach to the physical game, Slowinski has a proven track record of delivering silverware. He has coached national teams to gold medals at the Pan American, South American, and European Championships, and is widely regarded as a pioneer in modern coaching techniques.
The partnership has already begun in the digital space, with the Bermudian squad meeting their new mentor via an online session. Slowinski has wasted no time in laying the framework for a revamped training program, focusing on the technical and mental disciplines required to compete at the highest level.
The primary objective for Slowinski and the team is the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, which will be hosted in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, this coming July. With the tournament serving as one of the major benchmarks for regional dominance, the appointment of such a high-caliber coach signals Bermuda's ambition to be standing on the podium when the final pins drop in the Caribbean.
Monday, February 23, 2026
FIFA Wants Injured Players to Say Off for One Minute
IslandStats.com
Players who receive treatment for an injury could be forced to stay off the field for one minute under proposals from FIFA.
It is one of a number of measures to tackle tempo disruption and time loss which are set to be approved at the International Football Association Board (Ifab) Annual General meeting on Saturday.
At present there is no stipulation in the laws over how long injured players have to remain on the sidelines.
Leagues have the right to set their own guidelines, with the Premier League adopting a 30-second rule since the 2023-24 season.
FIFA held its own trials at the Arab Cup in December which required a player to stay off the field for two minutes.
FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina says the two-minute rule is intended to reduce time-wasting and improve the flow of the game.
It mirrors an approach taken by Major League Soccer, which is triggered if a player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and the physio comes on.
At an IFAB meeting in January it was agreed a fixed period should be added to the laws, but there was disagreement over the length of time and strong pushback against two minutes.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
White shows Grit to Finish Strongly after Heavy Crash
IslandStats.com
Conor White faced a grueling day of physical and mental resilience as he continued his landmark journey at the 2026 Pan American Track Championships in Santiago, Chile. Competing in the Men's Omnium, the Bermudian was forced to navigate a series of unfortunate events across four distinct races to secure a hard-earned finish among the region's elite.
The morning session began with the Scratch Race, but disaster struck when White became an innocent bystander in a high-speed crash. Hit by another rider, he suffered significant track burns, bumps, and bruises, leaving his racing suit torn. Following a medical assessment that cleared him of major injury, a determined White remounted his bike to finish the race. Despite the physical toll, he returned to the track shortly after for the Tempo Race, where he showed immense character to place 14th.
After a brief recovery period, White returned for the afternoon session to tackle the final two disciplines of the event. The Elimination Race proved frustrating as he was the first rider to be called out, but he quickly shifted his focus to the concluding Points Race. In a display of endurance that has become his trademark this week, White delivered a standout performance to finish fourth in the final segment of the competition.
The late surge allowed White to finish 13th overall in the Omnium standings with a total of 32 points. While the early crash undoubtedly hampered his chances of a higher placement, his ability to fight back and claim a top-five finish in the final race provided a positive end to an exhausting day of competition on the world stage.
